From "Crime in the United States," 1996 Uniform Crime Reports, U.S. Department of Justice, Federal Bureau of Investigation:  "The Uniform Crime Reporting Program is a nationwide, cooperative statistical effort of more than 16,000 city, county and state law enforcement agencies voluntarily reporting data on crimes brought to their attention."

The Crime Index is composed of selected offenses used to gauge fluctuations in the overall volume and rate of crime reported to law enforcement. The offenses included are the violent crimes of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault and the property crimes of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson.

Index Rate

Crime rates relate to the incidence of crime to population. In 1996, there were an estimated 5,079 Crime Index offenses for each 100,000 persons in the United States population, the lowest rate since 1984.

Violent Crime

Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and non-negligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.  All violent crimes involve force or threat of force.

Murder and Non negligent Manslaughter

Murder and non-negligent manslaughter, as defined in the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, is the willful (non-negligent) killing of one human being by another.

Forcible Rape

Forcible rape, as defined in the program, is the carnal knowledge of a female forcibly and against her will. Assaults or attempts to commit rape by force or threat of force also are included; however, statutory rape (without force) and other sex offenses are excluded.

Robbery

Robbery is the taking or attempting to take anything of value from the care, custody or control of a person or persons by force or threat of force or violence and/or by putting the victim in fear.

Aggravated Assault

Aggravated assault is an unlawful attack by one person upon another for the purpose of inflicting severe or aggravated bodily injury. This type of assault is usually accompanied by the use of a weapon or by means likely to produce death or great bodily harm. Attempts are included, since it is not necessary that an injury result when a gun, knife or other weapon is used, which could and probably would result in serious personal injury if the crime were successfully completed.

Property Crime

Property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft and arson. The object of the theft-type offenses is the taking of money or property, but there is no force or threat of force against the victims. Arson is included, since it involves the destruction of property; its victims may be subjected to force.

Burglary

The Uniform Crime Reporting Program defines burglary as the unlawful entry of a structure to commit a felony or theft. The use of force to gain entry is not required to classify an offense as burglary. Burglary in this program is categorized into three sub-classifications: forcible entry, unlawful entry where no force is used and attempted forcible entry.

Larceny-Theft

Larceny-theft is the unlawful taking, carrying, leading or riding away of property from the possession or constructive possession of another. It's pocket picking, purse snatching, thefts from motor vehicles, thefts of motor vehicle parts and accessories, bicycle thefts, etc., in which no use of force, violence or fraud occurs. In the Uniform Crime Reporting Program, this crime category does not include embezzlement, confidence games, forgery and worthless checks. Motor vehicle theft also is excluded from this category inasmuch as it is a separate Crime Index offense.

Motor Vehicle Theft

Defined as the theft or attempted theft of a motor vehicle, this offense category includes the stealing of automobiles, trucks, buses, motorcycles, motor scooters, snowmobiles, etc. The definition excludes the taking of a motor vehicle for temporary use by those persons having lawful access.

Arson

Arson is defined by the Uniform Crime Reporting Program as any willful or malicious burning or attempt to burn, with or without intent to defraud, a dwelling house, public building, motor vehicle or aircraft, personal property of another, etc.

Only fires determined through investigation to have been willfully or maliciously set are classified as arsons. Fires of suspicious or unknown origins are excluded.

Hate Crimes

A hate crime, also known as a bias crime, is a criminal offense committed against a person, property or society that is motivated, in whole or in part, by the offender's bias against a race, religion, ethnic/national origin group or sexual-orientation group.